Tips from health experts for restaurant takeout, delivery safety during COVID-19
Still concerned ordering restaurant takeout and delivery during the novel coronavirus crisis?
Experts say you shouldn’t be.
“This option is a good risk management choice, especially for high risk and elderly groups because it helps maintain social distancing and reduces the number of touchpoints,” the NC State Extension states on the website for COVID-19 and food safety facts.
There is no evidence of food or food packaging being associated with transmission of COVID-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, is a respiratory virus not a food-borne illness.
NC State Extension’s best practices, updated frequently online, combines guidance from the CDC, Environmental Protection Agency, United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Drug Administration and World Health Organization.
And, the best thing to do before preparing or eating food is to wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds.
Melinda Forthofer, chairwoman of public health sciences at UNC Charlotte, answered more food safety questions:
How safe is takeout and delivery?
In general, the risk of coronavirus infection from contact with restaurant takeout or delivery is believed to be very, very small.
Can you get coronavirus from the packaging?
While the virus doesn’t seem to survive very long on packaging, such as the plastic or paper bags that are used to transport meals, consumers should keep in mind that bags transferred from one surface to another (for example, from a prep counter in a restaurant or a delivery person’s automobile to a table or counter in the home) do have a slight risk of transfer of any contaminants.”
What precautions should I take before I eat my takeout/delivery meal?
One way to reduce this risk is to leave that outer packaging outside the home and carry only the contents inside to be placed on the surfaces that we touch frequently.
What extra steps should workers be taking?
Restaurants and retailers have been advised to take steps to limit transmission through a combination of ‘stay at home’ policies for workers who have known exposures or show symptoms; frequent disinfection of surfaces; frequent hand washing and use of gloves where appropriate; and use of curbside pickup or ‘no-contact’ delivery for meal purchases.
A roundup of other sources, including Nations Restaurant News, offer these best practice safety tips for restaurants and their customers:
▪ Keep interactions to be minimal, consider online payments and drop-off deliveries.
▪ Maintain social distancing with pickups.
▪ In additional to tamper seals, consider labeling the package with the time and date of pick up and offering guest guidance, including heating or reheating instructions if applicable.
▪ Supply hand sanitizer to delivery drivers.
More help for restaurants
Many North Carolina restaurants turned to takeout and delivery options only when Gov. Roy Cooper ordered all dining rooms closed March 17. Some were shut down for the first time.
That’s why Charlotte-based Steritech, which specializes in food safety and protection services for the restaurant and food service industries, is offering two new safety protocol checks in person or virtually to help restaurants keep employees and customers safe, according to a company press release.
The goal is to help operators identify high-risk, high-touch areas and recommend how to properly clean and sanitize.
This story was originally published March 31, 2020 at 1:39 PM with the headline "Tips from health experts for restaurant takeout, delivery safety during COVID-19."